: an official or authoritative decision, decree, statement, or interpretation (as by a judge on a point of law)
1
a
: exerting power or authority
the ruling party
b
: chief, predominating
a ruling passion
2
: generally prevailing
Synonyms
Examples of ruling in a Sentence
Noun
The decision overturns the Supreme Court's earlier ruling.
She disputed the referee's ruling.
Adjective
members of the ruling class
the ruling opinion on premarital sex
Recent Examples on the Web
Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
All of those rulings are under appeal with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Thursday’s ruling against Truong My Lan, the former chairwoman of property developer Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, follows the resignation of two presidents in just over a year, in departures linked to separate allegations of wrongdoing.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
In one of the most anticipated and controversial rulings in American history, Simpson was acquitted of the double murder charges, famously prompting a stunned look on Kardashian’s face when the judge announced the verdict.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
In September, the city appealed a court ruling that allowed Gabela to run as a qualified candidate in the District 1 election last fall.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Judge Agne agreed and stated in her ruling that the team and stadium would likely succeed if the case continued in court.
—Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Thursday’s ruling was a win for the district and election integrity, Puckett told The Charlotte Observer.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2024
Walsh Bradley’s departure will mean a loss of significant institutional knowledge for the court, Geske said, noting that that applies not just to previous rulings but to the court’s inner workings and administrative decisions.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
Jessica Carbone, Saveur, 28 Nov. 2023
Following the death of her cousin Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, Queen Margrethe became Europe's only ruling female monarch.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024
The increase in angry partisanship and polarization is making ruling coalitions more fragile, and governance all the more difficult.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023
While critics called the ruling legal nonsense, the Kremlin appears to be banking on global homophobia as a unifying ideology that will align intolerant countries — particularly in the Middle East and Africa — against the liberal West.
—Natalia Abbakumova, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
The royal became the longest-serving European sovereign and the only ruling female monarch in Europe following the death of her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth II, in September at the age of 96.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2023
Congress spent a lot of time asking him about affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party — China’s sole ruling political party.
—Alex Cranz, The Verge, 24 Mar. 2023
The Chinese armed forces are unique in that they are led by the ruling political party, rather than its members swearing an oath to defend the country or a constitution.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2023
Queen Margrethe became the longest-serving European sovereign and the only ruling female monarch following the death of her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II in September.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2023
Noun
The high court’s ruling, likely to land in late June, has the potential to undo the convictions and sentences of those who have already gone to trial or pleaded guilty, and upend the charges still pending for many more.
—Ann E. Marimow, Washington Post, 13 Apr. 2024
All of those rulings are under appeal with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Apr. 2024
Thursday’s ruling against Truong My Lan, the former chairwoman of property developer Van Thinh Phat Holdings Group, follows the resignation of two presidents in just over a year, in departures linked to separate allegations of wrongdoing.
—Heather Chen, CNN, 12 Apr. 2024
In one of the most anticipated and controversial rulings in American history, Simpson was acquitted of the double murder charges, famously prompting a stunned look on Kardashian’s face when the judge announced the verdict.
—Krystie Lee Yandoli, Rolling Stone, 12 Apr. 2024
In September, the city appealed a court ruling that allowed Gabela to run as a qualified candidate in the District 1 election last fall.
—Joey Flechas, Miami Herald, 11 Apr. 2024
Judge Agne agreed and stated in her ruling that the team and stadium would likely succeed if the case continued in court.
—Shawn Raymundo, The Arizona Republic, 11 Apr. 2024
Thursday’s ruling was a win for the district and election integrity, Puckett told The Charlotte Observer.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2024
Walsh Bradley’s departure will mean a loss of significant institutional knowledge for the court, Geske said, noting that that applies not just to previous rulings but to the court’s inner workings and administrative decisions.
—Jessie Opoien, Journal Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Yet Taiwan was considered the ideal place to sample regional Chinese cuisine at the time, both because of what the ruling political elite consumed and the many traditions and techniques brought by recent immigrants to the nation.
—Jessica Carbone, Saveur, 28 Nov. 2023
Following the death of her cousin Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, Queen Margrethe became Europe's only ruling female monarch.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 4 Jan. 2024
The increase in angry partisanship and polarization is making ruling coalitions more fragile, and governance all the more difficult.
—Ishaan Tharoor, Washington Post, 6 Oct. 2023
While critics called the ruling legal nonsense, the Kremlin appears to be banking on global homophobia as a unifying ideology that will align intolerant countries — particularly in the Middle East and Africa — against the liberal West.
—Natalia Abbakumova, Washington Post, 30 Nov. 2023
The royal became the longest-serving European sovereign and the only ruling female monarch in Europe following the death of her third cousin, Queen Elizabeth II, in September at the age of 96.
—Kirsty Hatcher, Peoplemag, 13 Apr. 2023
Congress spent a lot of time asking him about affiliations with the Chinese Communist Party — China’s sole ruling political party.
—Alex Cranz, The Verge, 24 Mar. 2023
The Chinese armed forces are unique in that they are led by the ruling political party, rather than its members swearing an oath to defend the country or a constitution.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 10 Mar. 2023
Queen Margrethe became the longest-serving European sovereign and the only ruling female monarch following the death of her third cousin Queen Elizabeth II in September.
—Janine Henni, Peoplemag, 22 Feb. 2023
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'ruling.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Ruling.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ruling. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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